Shreveport, Louisiana - The Louisiana Bureau of Investigation has arrested a Shreveport couple on charges of government benefits fraud after they allegedly concealed their true income and assets while receiving Medicaid benefits for eight years.
Ebony Taylor, 42, and her husband Andre Jackson, 39, both of Shreveport, Louisiana, were arrested September 10, 2025, and booked into East Baton Rouge Prison. The couple faces felony charges under Louisiana Revised Statute 14:70.9 for Government Benefits Fraud.
Investigation Reveals Hidden Assets
The Louisiana Bureau of Investigation launched its investigation following a criminal referral from the Louisiana Department of Health. Investigators discovered Taylor fraudulently applied for and received Medicaid benefits for herself and her dependents between 2017 and 2025.
In her applications to the Louisiana Department of Health, Taylor consistently reported earning $750 bi-weekly while failing to disclose her marital status or combined household income with Jackson. During the same timeframe, Jackson applied for and received Medicaid benefits while claiming zero income from 2017 through 2023.
The investigation revealed the couple owned multiple properties and maintained substantial financial assets that contradicted their reported Medicaid eligibility. Their primary asset included a one-acre tract of land in Caddo Parish where they built a large residence with a taxable property value of $656,270 for 2025, according to mortgage and parish tax records.
Luxury Purchases During Fraud Period
Financial records showed Taylor reported a monthly income of $15,000 on mortgage loan applications and disclosed a bank account balance of $350,000. Beyond their primary residence, investigators found Taylor and Jackson owned numerous additional properties throughout Caddo Parish.
In 2022, Taylor financed a 2023 BMW X5 for $80,024 with monthly payments of $1,480. That same year, the couple contracted installation of an in-ground swimming pool with jetted spa at their residence for $94,000.
Bank records demonstrated yearly incomes of hundreds of thousands of dollars, along with expenditures on jewelry, vacations, hotels, restaurants, a bridal store, Amazon, Netflix, FanDuel, furniture, orthodontics, liquor stores and cosmetic surgery in Texas.
Total Fraud Amount Reaches $127,000
As of March 2025, investigators determined Taylor and Jackson defrauded the Medicaid program of approximately $127,000 in benefits they were not entitled to receive.
"It's pretty bold to buy a new pool, BMW, and plastic surgery while defrauding our Medicaid program," said Attorney General Liz Murrill. "The hardworking men and women of Louisiana paid for their extravagant lifestyle, and now they'll be brought to justice."
Ongoing Investigation
No bond has been set for either defendant at this time. The Louisiana Bureau of Investigation has indicated this remains an ongoing investigation, with additional charges potentially forthcoming.
Government benefits fraud occurs when individuals intentionally provide false information or conceal relevant facts to obtain benefits they are not legally entitled to receive. Medicaid, a joint federal and state program, provides healthcare coverage for eligible low-income individuals and families.
The case highlights ongoing efforts by state agencies to investigate and prosecute fraud within Louisiana's public assistance programs. The Louisiana Department of Health regularly refers suspicious cases to law enforcement when discrepancies are discovered during routine eligibility reviews or fraud investigations.
All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty.